000 AGXX40 KNHC 170702 MIMATS Marine Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 302 AM EDT Tue Apr 17 2018 Marine Weather Discussion for the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, and Tropical North Atlantic from 07N to 19N between 55W and 64W and the Southwest North Atlantic including the Bahamas ...GULF OF MEXICO... 1024 mb high pressure is situated over the north central Gulf near 28N90W. The gradient between the high pressure and lower pressure over the southern Plains is supporting fresh southeast return flow over the northwest Gulf off the Texas coast. Fresh northerly flow is also noted across the far southeast Gulf into the Straits of Florida. This flow is following in the wake of a cold front that exited the southeast Gulf yesterday. A recent scatterometer satellite pass also indicated a small area of fresh to strong northerly winds off west coast of Yucatan, where a nocturnal trough is forming along the coast. Buoy and altimeter data show 4 to 6 ft seas across the eastern Gulf and generally 2 to 4 ft elsewhere, except near 5 ft off Texas. The front left the Gulf fairly dry, and no shower or thunderstorm activity is noted. Visibility remains unrestricted across the Gulf. High pressure over the north central Gulf will shift east through today, allowing the fresh SE return flow off Texas to increase slightly tonight with seas building to 7 ft. These winds and seas will diminish Wed ahead of a weak cold front expected to settle over the northern Gulf Thu. A stronger reinforcing front will move into the northern Gulf Thu night into Fri morning, before shifting south and stalling from southwest Florida to south Texas late Fri. High pressure building in the wake of the front over the eastern U.S. will support fresh E to SE winds across most of the Gulf Sat, with possibly strong winds over the northeast Gulf by late Sat. ...CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... A weakening frontal boundary reaches from central Cuba to central Honduras. Fresh N to NE winds are noted west of 85W, with stronger winds near the Bay Islands. Moderate NE winds are noted south of the boundary. Seas are 5 to 8 ft across the northwest Caribbean. A line of showers is active along the length of the boundary in the northwest Caribbean. Farther south, a recent scatterometer satellite pass indicated strong trade winds off the coast of Colombia. Farther east, a vigorous upper trough moving across the eastern Caribbean into the tropical Atlantic is supporting areas of heavy showers and a few thunderstorms across the northern Windward Islands. An earlier scatterometer satellite pass indicated fresh to strong easterly winds between Saint Vincent and Martinique. Gusty winds and higher seas are possible near these thunderstorms through early morning as the supporting upper trough shifts slowly east of the area. Meanwhile, NE to E swell to 8 ft is still present in the tropical Atlantic waters east of the Windward Islands. For the forecast, winds and seas will diminish through late today as the boundary lifts northward and dissipates. Strong high pressure in the central Atlc along with ridging into the northern and eastern Caribbean will continue to support fresh to strong E to NE winds along the coast of Colombia and the Gulf of Venezuela into Wed. This area of fresh to strong winds and 8 to at least 10 ft will expand to cover most of the south central Caribbean through Fri as high pressure builds north of the area, then diminishing in areal coverage Sat as the ridge weakens. ...SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... A cold front reaches from 31N70W to eastern Cuba. Scattered showers and a few thunderstorms are active along the frontal boundary. Strong SW winds are noted north of 29N within 120 nm east of the front. Strong NW winds are also noted in a recent scatterometer satellite pass north of 30N off northeast Florida, related a reinforcing trough moving off the Carolina coast toward the front. Seas are 8 to 11 ft north of 30N west of 68W. Elsewhere over open waters, seas are 5 to 7 ft. The front will begin to weaken as it reaches from Bermuda to eastern Cuba later today, allowing winds to diminish north of 30N, although swell in excess of 8 ft will linger north of 30N east of 70W through early Wed. The weakening cold front will reach from near 28N65W to 26N70W and stationary to the southeast Bahamas and eastern Cuba by early Wed. The western portion will lift back to the north as a dissipating boundary to near 26N through Thu night. Looking ahead, a front will move off the northeast Florida coast Thu night and move east, reaching from Bermuda to West Palm Beach Florida by late Fri, accompanied by fresh northerly winds and a few showers and thunderstorms. The stalling front will reach from 31N55W to the Straits of Florida by late Sat. Fresh to strong NE winds are possible north of the boundary by late Sat as high pressure builds north of the region. $$ .WARNINGS...Any changes impacting coastal NWS offices will be coordinated through AWIPS II Collaboration Chat, or by telephone: .GULF OF MEXICO... None. .CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLANTIC FROM 07N TO 19N BETWEEN 55W AND 64W... None. .SW N ATLANTIC INCLUDING THE BAHAMAS... None. $$ *For detailed zone descriptions, please visit: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/abouttafbprod.shtml#OWF Note: gridded marine forecasts are available in the National Digital Forecast Database (NDFD) at: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/marine/grids.php For additional information, please visit: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/marine $$ .Forecaster Christensen. National Hurricane Center.